West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-10-13

and says it in very few words.
Review OF Major StaInaker,, I'm.
tervtew1
Mr.. Editor
In the Wheeling Register OF Oct
9TH there is an alleged interview be.
tween a reporter for the Pittsburgh
Times and Major RAN Stalnaker. In
this interview, Maj. Stalnaker pro
ceeds to give his views and opinions
upon the political situation in West
Virginia, and announces the fact that
he has been a Democrat since '65.'
1t is also stated at the close of the
articled copied from the Pittsburgh
Times, and which is said editorially.
that MIR. Stalnaker is ex-Secretary of
state Of West Virginia and at present
a prominent manufacturer The
Reg'steT, commenting on this inter
view, thinks that Mr.. Stalnaker is not
correctly reported; that he is too in.
selligent man and too thoroughly
conVersant with West Virginia poll.
tics to take up the cry of Democracy
and free trade The Register then
proceeds by numerous extracts from
what it claims to be representative
papers of the south to prove that if
Maj. Stalnaker did use the language
attributed to him in the iterview his
position on the tariff question is
correct, and that he only erred in pla.
eng the Democracy of West Virginia
and the party generally in false
light on the question of protection;
not by direct accusation, but by in.
sinuating that there is apostolic dan.
ger OF the party in the State, or any
considerable number of Democrats in
the State, allying themselves to Car
Isle, with reference TO popularizing
his free trade heresies.'
L submit the question in all candor
and fairness: Is it fair, honorable
or just, to characterize Mr.. Carlisle
as a free trader Why is this done {?
Why does Mr.. Stalnaker extol Mr..
Randall and condemn Mr.. Carlisle ?
What is the difference between them
on the tariff issue as given by them.
selves ? have been unable TO see.
1t is true that there is a wide differ.
ence in their actions, Mr.. Randall
amt few DemOcrats-a handful
always acting with the Republicans
whenever any effort is made to carry
out the pledges made by the party TO
revise and reduce the tariff-Mr. Car.
Isle and a great majority Of the party
in Congress honestly and fearlessly
endeavoring to carry them out. This
is the marked difference between the
two gentlemen in action. Now what
is the difference between these two
gentlemen in profession None. /
say none. Carlisle and his party in
Congress, and, as / understand, the
Democratic party Of the country
and l have been a Democrat much
longer than twenty-five years-believe
as an abstract proposition, that the
revenues Of the government should
be raised by a system OF import du.
ties, and only so much land no more
should be raised as is necessary In
defray the expenses Of the general
government honestly and economi.
cally administered.
Now in what particular does Mr..
Rsndalfs position differ from this
About three years ago, Mr.. r. pub,
licly defined his position to be exact
~ the same, using Tor most part, ex.
nctly the same language, with this
significant and emphatic addition.
that there is no constitutional war.
rant or authority FOR raising one cent
more ] repeat the question Where
is the difference between these two
statesmen in profession, except that
n any difference, Mr.. Randall is more
emphatic The real difference be.
tween them is not in profession but
in actions. Why call the one a free
trader and the other a 'protectionisri
It seems TO me that it would be more
appropriate to call Mr. Carlisle a fair
trader'-not sailing under false colors
and Mr. Randall masked trader
protesting one thing and acting
another
since MAJOR Stalnakcr has under.